Eli's Earth Bars, Dream Big Bar - June 17, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Sjaak's Organic Chocolates
Eli's Earth Bars
Dream Big Bar
Good - Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) for 1 bar
Calories: 210 calories in 1 bar
Cost: $2.75 for 1 bar
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

Spring turns to summer this week, and the long, warm light days are evoking memories of barbecues, baseball games, walks in the park, trips to the beach, ice cream, and a whole lot more.

So, in the spirit of summer optimism, today I tried a "Dream Big Bar" (good name) -- part of the Eli's Earth Bars line from Sjaak's Organic Chocolates (Petaluma, CA). The softly chewy bar was filled with caramel, peanuts and peanut butter.

Eli's Earth Bars are organic, gluten free and vegan; and the company donates 5% of their proceeds to a charitable children's organization.

Today was Day #4 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week. Best wishes on all your own big dreams this summer.

Cleo's Peanut Butter Cups - June 16, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Go Max Go Foods LLC
Cleo's Peanut Butter Cups
Good +
Weight: 1.5 oz. (43 g.) in 1 package of 2 cups
Calories: 240 calories in 1 package of 2 cups
Cost: $1.20 (estimate) (going out of business sale)
Purchased from: Miki's Farm Fresh Market, Palo Alto, CA

Chocolate and peanut butter -- a power couple in the dessert world. So, it's only right to devote at least one or two days this week to peanut butter cups.

These smooth, rich peanut butter cups from Go Max Go Foods (Dallas, TX) were gluten-free and vegan, with "nothing artificial" and no trans fats. Covering the creamy peanut butter center was a dairy-free rice milk "chocolatey" coating.

Today was Day #3 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

'Bert' Bar - June 15, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Bees and Beans
'Bert' bar
Weight: 1.3 oz. (36.8 g.) / 2 oz. (28 g.) in total bar
Calories: 195 calories (estimate) in 1.3 oz. piece
Cost: $4.99 for 1 bar
Purchased from: Bi-Rite Market, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #2 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

The 'Bert' candy bar from Bees and Beans (Portland, OR) contained a dense, slightly creamy jumble of ingredients, including filberts, milk chocolate, crispy rice and peanut butter, dipped in dark chocolate. Bees and Beans specializes in higher-end, handmade candy bars.

Organic Peanut Butter Cup - June 14, 2013

Chocolate of the Day:

Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates
Peanut Butter Cup
Good +
Weight: .6 oz. (17 g.) for 1 cup
Calories: 100 calories (estimate) for 1 cup
Cost: $1.50 for 1 cup
Purchased from: SweetE Organic, Mill Valley, CA

This organic, fair trade certified Peanut Butter Cup from Mama Ganache Artisan Chocolates (San Luis Obispo, CA) kicked off Day #1 of Chocolate and Peanut Butter Theme Week.

The peanut butter cup is a classic favorite for chocolate and peanut lovers, and this particular cup was quite good. It also was made without additives and preservatives. Nice to see there are more organic confection options like this, and more stores (like SweetE Organic) to distribute them.

Hibiscus Flower Sundae - June 13, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Talenti
Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip (gelato)
Good
Weight: 1/4 cup (52 g.) / 1 Pint (473 ml) total container
Calories: 115 calories in 1/4 cup
Cost: $6.99 (estimate) for 1 container
Purchased from: Piazza's Fine Foods, Palo Alto, CA

When thinking about incorporating hibiscus into an ice cream (or gelato) sundae, many intriguing possibilities popped into my head. The flavor combination that won out today:

A cool scoop of Black Raspberry Chocolate Chip (gelato) from Talenti (Minneapolis, MN), topped with Wild Hibiscus Flowers in Rose Syrup (Wild Hibiscus Flower Co., Australia), and chopped Lilikoi (passion fruit flavored) Macadamia Nuts (Ahualoa Farms, Hawaii).

The gelato was a pleasant collision of black raspberries, sugar, and flecks of dark chocolate. The wild hibiscus flowers in rose syrup were incredibly exotic, floral and not too sweet -- which I liked. The passion fruit flavored chopped nuts worked well. A bit of fresh coconut added to this sundae would have been great too.

Today was the last day of Chocolate and Hibiscus Theme Week.

Pacari Lemongrass bar - June 12, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Pacari Chocolate
Lemongrass (bar)
Good+
Weight: 1 oz. (28 g.) / 1.76 oz. (50 g.) total bar
Calories: 152 calories (estimate) for 1 oz. (28.3 g.) serving
Cost: $ N/A - sample
Purchased from: N/A - sample from Pacari Chocolate, San Francisco Fancy Food Show, San Francisco, CA

Today was Day #6 of Chocolate and Hibiscus Theme Week.

Combining a few semi-tropical flavors together today, I sampled a refreshing Lemongrass flavored dark chocolate bar from Pacari Chocolate (Quito, Ecuador), with a small glass of hibiscus coconut tea (from Republic of Tea).

Ecuadorian, tree-to-bar, organic chocolate maker, Pacari Chocolate, included this Lemongrass* bar in the company's 4-bar, flavors of the Andes collection (that also included bars with Andean blueberries, pink salt from Cuzco, and merken chili and coriander). Bars were made from "pure Ecuadorian Arriba National Cacao" and were gluten free, dairy free, kosher and soy free.

These flavors conjured up spending time on a lazy summer afternoon in a hammock, enjoying sips of exotic iced tea, listening to the sound of a gentle breeze wafting through palm trees overhead. Not bad; not bad at all.

*Note: Lemongrass is also known as Hierba Luisa in Peru (citron verbena in Germany, and vervaine citronelle in some French speaking regions). The Lemongrass essence in this bar was delightful -- very fresh, not quite lemon, not quite herb. Somewhere in between.

Orange Hibiscus bar - June 11, 2013

Chocolate of the Day: 

Trader Joe's
Dark Chocolate Bar - Orange Hibiscus
Good - Good +
Weight: .75 oz. (21.2 g.) / 2 oz. (57 g.) in 1 bar
Calories: 120 calories in .75 oz. (21.2 g.) piece
Cost: $9.99 for 7-bar tasting pack
Purchased from: Trader Joe's, Menlo Park, CA

Today's citrus fruit and floral-forward bar was part of a Trader Joe's (Monrovia, CA) Dark Chocolate Tasting Odyssey pack of 7 different bars (a seasonal item from earlier in the year).

Orange is a good match with hibiscus and chocolate, and this Orange Hibiscus 70% cacao bar was no exception. The bar was infused with a "floral and fruity tea, mingled with orange (oil) and hibiscus (tea and powder) flavors." Other ingredients that added to this refreshing bouquet included: elderberry, apples, rosehip peels, kiwi, dried strawberry pieces, sunflower petals, rose petals and cornflower petals.

Fruit and floral, indeed. The dark chocolate base had a balanced profile, without any overpowering notes, allowing the tea or other flavor additions to shine through.

Today was Day #5 of Chocolate and Hibiscus Theme Week.